NAMIBIA: Monitor Exploration Announces Commencement of EIA and EMP for Seismic Operations

Monitor Exploration has announced it closed 2021 by commencing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP), engaging Risk-Based Solutions (RBS) of Dr. Sindila Mwiya and his team.

Upon completion, Monitor will be granted a clearance certificate, mandatory for onshore Namibia, for conventional seismic operations over PEL 93.

“We expect to obtain this authorization by May-June 2022, and schedule to proceed with the seismic operations immediately after. Our objective is to cover all three AOIs identified successfully within our licence. This is help us understand the nature of the trends we see on the Gravity and other data.”

From a practical point of view, the terrain allows for operations along roads and fences as well as into the land, if deemed necessary, with minimal impact to the surroundings.

Currently, AOI 02 has demonstrated the most significant potential for hydrocarbon, after integration of various data, including a few very well positioned existing seismic lines.

However, if the lines over AOI 01 show signs of a potential structure, then Monitor could plan further lines to firm that up to drillable status.

“It is our objective to take advantage of rapid seismic processing turnaround to plan additional lines based on the results of the initial plan.”

Existing Data from Remote Sensing and Passive Seismic surveys carried out (2018)

• AOI 00 (385 km² surveyed of which 144 km2 identified as prominent anomaly): over large anticlinal structure (gravity data); higher Ethane gas
  concentration at the surface; remote sensing shows hc seepages; very good correlation with passive seismic anomalies, esp. located on top of the
  anticlinal structure that could be a feasible hc trap. Further to the east, remote sensing suggests more exploration opportunities.
• AOI 01 (381 km² surveyed): located over gravity high, associated with a large anticlinal structure; passive seismic results not as consistent with all
  existing data; some overlap with Ethane gas readings in the SE;
• AOI 02 (371 km² surveyed of which 58 km2 identified as prominent anomaly): area with most existing data; two gravity
  anomalies present; intercepted by 2D seismic lines; seismic line OSH4 shows 3 levels of structures; significant coincidence
  with passive seismic anomalies and high readings of Ethane gas on top of structural highs. Results of the simulation show a range of recoverable resource from 136 to 675mmbo, with a mean of 368mmbo. The gas case has a mean in excess of 1Tcf.

In 2018 MEL signed the Petroleum Agreement for blocks 1717 and 1817and had PEL 93 assigned. MEL is the operator with 75% while a Local partner holds 15% Local partner and state oil company NAMCOR has 10% State oil company